Liturgical Colors

The colors of liturgical vestments worn by clergy change from time to time. This is because the church uses different colors to indicate the season or feast that is being celebrated. Here at SLM, I notice that many of the parishioners, especially lay people involved in liturgical ministries, wear liturgical colors to Mass. The different colors are drawn from creation to remind those participating in a liturgy of the different blessings of God. The colors used are white (or gold), purple (or violet), green, red and rose pink.

WHITE: White (or gold), since it is a festive, joyful color, is used during the Christmas and Easter seasons, and on major feast days, such as, on the celebrations of the Lord other than of his Passion, of the Blessed Virgin Mary, of the Holy Angels, and of Saints who were not martyrs, and on the Solemnities of All Saints. Because white symbolizes the Resurrection, it is also the color often used for funerals.

PURPLE/VIOLET: Purple or violet symbolizes repentance and penance. Vestments of violet (blue + gray) are used during Advent, and vestments of purple (blue + red) are used during the season of Lent. The color reminds us of the violet flower that bows its head, a symbol of humility. Lent is the season of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. It is a quiet season of reflection. The color of Advent is more of a rose-purple, like the sky just before sunrise. This is the time of year when the Church waits in joyful hope to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the light of the world. Purple or violet dye was very expensive. An early Christian, Lydia from Thyatira, made her living from the purple dye trade and was able to support St. Paul in his missionary work (Acts 16: 14-15)

GREEN: Green is a sign of life in nature and as such it represents growth, life and hope. Green is the color worn most often during liturgies in Ordinary Time. It symbolizes the graces that draw people into the life of God. Most of the Church's year is Ordinary Time.

RED: Red symbolizes both blood and fire. It is the color that is used on Passion (Palm) Sunday, Pentecost Sunday, and for celebrations of the Sacrament of Confirmation. It is also the color traditionally associated with martyrs – those who have shed their blood for their faith – and so it is worn on the feast days of martyrs.

ROSE PINK: Rose pink is an optional color that may be used on the Third Sunday of Advent and the Fourth Sunday of Lent. On both of these days, the Entrance Antiphon calls us to rejoice, so the pink vestments mark a softening of the penitential tone of the season.